Studying Languages at Dalhousie

Your Passport to the World!

Why should I study another language?

• Commune!• Commute!

• Communicate!

FrenchFrench

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French in the world• French is a Romance language—a descendent of Latin, along

with Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Rumanian, etc. It developed from a dialect of Old French spoken in the territory of Île de France (Paris).

• Nowadays French is spoken worldwide.

In Europe: Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Monaco, Switzerland.

In Africa:Bénin, Cameroon, Maghreb countries (= Algeria,

Morocco, Tunisia), Mali, Senegal, Togo, etc.In the Americas:

Canada, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, St. Pierre et Miquelon, US (Louisiana, Vermont).

In Asia: Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam.

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• French is the mother tongue of more than 120 million people and the second most-commonly taught second language in the world (after English).

• It is an official language in some 30 countries and one of the 5 official languages of the United Nations.

• French speaking countries of the world—pays de la francophonie—form a powerful economic and cultural network (comparable to the Commonwealth); they sponsor research and development and scientific and cultural exchange worldwide.

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• French is the mother tongue of Quebeckers, Acadians, Franco-Ontarians, Franco-Manitobans and Fransascois—close to 7 million people, or 22% of the total population of Canada.

• It is taught as a second language across the country.

• It is one of the two official languages of Canada (along with English): all Canadian institutions—Parliament, Government Agencies, etc.—are bilingual.

French in Canada

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The influence of French language and culture: the case of English

• Historically, English borrowed 70% of its vocabulary from French. Here are some of the old borrowings that are now part of the English language:

[kinship terms] aunt, cousin, nephew, niece, uncle...[foods] biscuit, mutton, pork, potage, prune, raisin, veal, vinegar...[architecture] ceiling, chamber, chimney, palace, square, tower...[furniture] carpet, chair, curtain, cushion, lamp, lantern, table...[abstract terms] glory, memory, victory...Etc.

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• French expressions used as is in English:

à propos, Bon appétit!, carte blanche, C’est la vie., café au lait, Comme ci comme ça., crêpes, croissants, déjà vu, haute couture, hors d’oeuvre, raison d’être, R.S.V.P., touché, voilà, etc.

• English expressions bearing a direct reference to French culture:

French bread, French fries, French key, French kiss, French mustard, French window, take a French leave, etc.

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• France has more Nobel Prize laureates in literature than any other country in the world. Here are some: Albert Camus, André Gide, Anatole France, François Mauriac, Romain Rolland.

• It is also one of the top film-making countries in the world. French cinema has produced such mega stars as Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Gérard Dépardieux, Daniel Auteuil, Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Adjani, Juliette Binoche, Béatrice Dalle, and so on.

Québec has a vibrant film industry, as well. Thus, the work of these Québecois directors has been internationally acclaimed: Claude Jutra (Mon oncle Antoine, A tout prendre, Kamouraska), Robert Lepage (Confessional, La face cachée de la lune), Denys Arcand (Jésus de Montréal, Le déclin de l’empire américain, Les invasions barbares).

French: language of art, fashion and—love

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• France and Belgium are the leading producers of comics (bande dessinée): Astérix and Tintin are known all over the world.

• Paris is one of the world’s fashion capitals: everyone is familiar with fashion lines of Pierre Cardin, Coco Chanel, Christian Dior and Jean Paul Gaultier, to mention just a few.

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French at Dalhousie• Courses in French language, linguistics, literature and

cultureSpoken French, Quebec French, French for Business, Cinema: the French phenomenon, Stories and Legends of the Francophone World, Electronic Tools for Teaching French, and many more.

• Study abroad programmesA semester in Dakar (Senegal), a year in Dijon

(France)

• Certificate of proficiency in French

• Social & cultural lifeStudents’ French society, film screenings, wine &

cheese parties, and a lot more.

www.french.dal.ca

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Careers with French• Teaching• Language Technologies • Translation & Interpretation• Journalism & Communications• Public Service• International Trade• Business Administration• TourismEtc.

Spanish at Dalhousie

El español en la Universidad de Dalhousie

In association with partner universities and international institutions, the Department of Spanish offers our students the opportunity to enhance and extend their study of Spanish language and cultures in an immersion setting in four programmes abroad:

• In Spain: Salamanca

• In Mexico: Campeche

• In the Dominican Republic: Santiago

• In Cuba: Havana

The University of Salamanca, one of the oldest in the world, through its Department of Cursos Internacionales offers a variety of courses in Language, Culture, Literature, History, Art and Business.  The programme consists of five hours of classes a day, five days a week, for 10 weeks in the Fall or Winter semesters.

Salamanca, Spain ProgrammeSalamanca is an historical city situated north-west of Madrid in the region of Castilla Leon. 

The Mexico Programme at the University of Campeche

Since 1998 Dalhousie Students have been taking courses in Spanish and Mexican culture at the university of Halifax’s “sister city” in Mexico. Campeche is on the Yucatan peninsula, and is surrounded by superb Mayan ruins, which the students visit. Students live with local families and take course at the Centro de Español y Maya. Further information is available from Professor John Kirk.

The Pucamaima Programme in Santiago, Dominican RepublicThe Pucamaima programme is operated in collaboration with the second largest university in the Dominican Republic. It takes place in both the autumn and winter semesters. The students register in courses especially designed for the Spanish for Foreigners Department. Courses include a wide variety of classes in language, literature, art, culture, and history. For further information contact Dalhousie course coordinator, Professor Maria M. Jimenes.

  Havana, Cuba Programme

This interdisciplinary programme is open to students taking an advanced major, double advanced major, honours or combined honours programme in International Development Studies or Spanish (second year Spanish or equivalent is required).

Diplomas of Spanish as a Foreign Language

• International validation of your knowledge of Spanish.

•  These are the DELEs, the Diplomas of Spanish as a Foreign Language, created in 1991 by the Ministry of Education and Culture of Spain, designed by the University of Salamanca and administered by the Instituto Cervantes through the Spanish Embassies. 

• The Spanish Department at Dalhousie University organizes the examinations every May.

German at Dalhousie

Wer keine Fremdsprache kennt, kennt seine eigene auch nicht.~ Johann Wolfgang Goethe

Unless you know a foreign language, you also do not know your own.

Die Grenzen deiner Sprache sind die Grenzen deiner Welt.~ Ludwig Wittgenstein

The limits of your language are the limits of your world.

German is a Great Language to learn for many reasons:

- Many words are very close to English (Wind, Haus, Apfel, Wurm) because they are related languages.

- The way that words are combined to make new ones is also fascinating: Krankenhaus = sick-house (hospital), Krankenwagen = sick-waggon (ambulance), Krankenschwester = sick-sister (nurse)

- The sounds of German are beautiful! Compare the pronounciation of ‘Nirvana’, or ‘Marmelade’!

German is useful to learn because:

• It’s the most widely used language in Europe. • Germany itself is beautiful, fascinating, progressive, rich in culture and

resources, and has a key role in both the history and future of Europe. The country is also Canada’s 4th largest trading partner.

• In practically every academic field, Germans have made major contributions – to the development of the full range of sciences, to archaeology and anthropology, to music and the visual arts, architecture, engineering, mathematics and philosophy. Many resources in these fields are only available ‘auf Deutsch’!

German at Dal is unique because we:

• are “one of the best, if not the best German department in the country” (External Review, Toronto/Harvard 1999) • offer excellent language training with vibrant instructors and lots of opportunity to practice speaking. • have accelerated and intensive programs available • have a lively, friendly student society • offer and accredit a wide range of study-abroad programs (some subsidized by scholarships from the DAAD) - places such as Freiburg, Kassel, Heidelberg and Berlin

Most of all, learn German because it has the power to change the way you THINK.

• Its strong structure will subconsciously influence the way you put ideas together

• Nothing can broaden your perspective more than contact with other cultures.

• The depth of ideas you can discover in German writers is unsurpassed – if you’re looking for real content, it’s here!

Russian at Dalhousie

Русский язык в университете им. Дальхаузи

Russian at DalhousieIntensive Russian ProgrammeSt. Petersburg, Russia

Russian Student Society

Russian lunches

Russian Night

Contact us: rusn@dal.ca

russianstudies.dal.ca

Мы любим русский язык!

Learn Mandarin @ Dalhousie!

Learn Mandarin @ Dalhousie! The Chinese Program at Dalhousie offers the following Mandarin

Chinese classes:

• CHIN1030x/y Introductory Mandarin Chinese• CHIN2030x/y Intermediate Mandarin Chinese• CHIN3030x/y Advanced Mandarin Chinese• CHIN3050x Asian Cinema (in English)Chinese culture and literature courses are forthcoming! These courses fulfill the BA language requirement and are available

to all Dalhousie Students.

Chinese Class Choir

Calligraphy Demonstration

Chinese Speakers Series

Why learn Mandarin Chinese?• Mandarin Chinese is one of the five official

languages of the United Nations

Why learn Mandarin Chinese?• Mandarin Chinese is spoken by over a billion people

in the world

Why learn Mandarin Chinese?• Mandarin Chinese is widely

used in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia

By learning Mandarin Chinese, you’ll be able to better…

• Immerse yourself in Chinese culture, history, and civilization

By learning Mandarin Chinese, you’ll be able to better…

• Participate in one of the most dynamic economies in the world today

By learning Mandarin Chinese, you’ll be able to better…• Travel with ease in China and

other Chinese-speaking regions in Asia

Complete information at…

Chinese Studiesc/o Russian Studies

McCain 3010 Tel: 494-3473

http://chinesestudies.dal.ca/

Arabic at Dalhousie

Italian at Dalhousie

ITALIAN STUDIESCLASSES IN: Italian Language

Italian Cinema

Italian Literature

Italian Culture

• ITAL 1010XY.06 Italian for Beginners• ITAL 1012XY.06 Reading Italian• ITAL 2010XY.06 Intermediate Italian • ITAL 2200.03 Modern Italian Culture• ITAL 2210.03 Introduction to Italian Literature• ITAL 3010XY.06 Advanced Italian• ITAL 3200.03 Modern Italian Literature• ITAL 3300.03 Twentieth Century Italian Fiction • ITAL 3500.03 Topics in Italian Culture• ITAL 3600.03 Italian National Cinema: the New Wave• ITAL 4010.03 Advanced Composition • ITAL 4020.03 Italian to English Translation • ITAL 4040.03 Dante's Inferno

DEGREES OFFERED

• Combined Honours

• Double major

• Area of concentration

STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS

Urbino:Summer classes in-Italian language-Italian culture

EXCHANGE PROGRAMS

Macerata:-- One and two-term exchange- Classes in all subjects - Credits recognized by Dalhousie

STUDENT SOCIETY

• AMICI MIEI, Italian Student Society, offers:

Conversation, games, movie nights..and more!

Radio Show in Italian on CKDU!!!

DAL MONDO ITALIANO WED 6 PM!

CONTACTS

• http://italian.dal.ca/• Telephone: (902) 494-6816• Email: Italian@dal.ca

Thank you!